New York Man Who Charged Airliner Cockpit Sentenced

April 5, 2016

A New York state man who charged an airliner cockpit saying "jihad" has been sentenced to nine months in prison and three years of supervised release.

David Diaz, 36, of Poughkeepsie, pleaded guilty to interfering with a United Airlines flight crew in the March 2015 incident, the US Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Virginia said in a statement.

It said that Diaz shouted threats when he charged the airliner cockpit shortly after the plane took off from Washington's Dulles Airport.

After being tackled by passengers, Diaz said "jihad" and that there was something in the belly of the plane. Passengers and flight attendants restrained him until the plane returned to Dulles.

US District Judge Anthony Trenga also ordered Diaz to complete mental health and substance abuse treatment and to pay USD$22,151.77 in restitution to United.

(Reuters)